NPSA and CUPP Critique Imposed Consensus in Candidate Selection

The Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA) and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) have expressed strong disapproval of the practice of imposed consensus in the selection of party candidates in Nigeria. In an interview, Prof. Hassan Saliu, the president of NPSA, stated that consensus should only be accepted when it is genuinely agreed upon by all involved parties.

He raised concerns that the current candidate selection process in Nigeria is more about imposition than true consensus. Mark Adebayo, the public secretary of CUPP, highlighted that while consensus can promote unity within parties, it often fails to reflect the actual choices of party members.

He criticized the manner in which consensus is typically applied in Nigeria, arguing that the Electoral Act allows political parties to adopt either direct or indirect consensus primaries, rather than restricting options. Additionally, the Deputy National Organizing Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) defended the practice of granting incumbents the right of first refusal when seeking re-election, aligning this with constitutional provisions.